Hydrofluric acid

Raw materials

1. Fluorite

2. Concentrated sulfuric acid

Process

Hydrofluoric acid is produced by treatment of the mineral fluorite (CaF₂) with concentrated sulfuric acid. When combined at 265 °C, these two substances react to produce hydrogen fluoride and calcium sulfate according to the following:

CaF₂ + H₂SO₄ → 2 HF + CaSO₄

Product

Hydrofluric acid

Used for

Oil refining, production of organofluorine compounds, production of fluorides, etchant and cleaning agent, dissolving rock samples (usually powdered) prior to analysis, extracting organic fossils from silicate rocks, removing the "sickness" from the glass caused by acids (usually in the soil the bottle was buried in) attacking the soda content of antique glass bottles

Production facility

Logan City, QLD

Export

Santiago, Chile